The best and worst players from the Week 12 win over the 49ers

The Green Bay Packers earned a dominant victory over the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field on Sunday, using a strong performance from Josh Jacobs in the running game and disruptive play from the defense to win 38-10.

As measured by Pro Football Focus’ overall grade, Sunday was the Packers’ best performance overall and on defense. Facing a depleted 49ers roster, the Packers tackled well, ran the ball well and protected the quarterback well – all while winning the turnover battle 3-0. This is a winning formula against anyone, anywhere.

Based on Pro Football Focus’ grades, here are the best and worst players from the Packers’ Week 12 win over the 49ers:

Top 5 offenses

1. WR Malik Heath: 92.3
2. LG Elgton Jenkins: 86.6
3. RB Josh Jacobs: 86.3
4. RT Zach Tom: 78.8
5. RB Emanuel Wilson: 75.9

Heath caught both of his targets for 15 yards, including a contested touchdown catch. Jenkins was accused of giving up a sack and received a holding penalty, but he still received a near-elite grade as a run blocker and a good grade in the passing game – suggesting he was almost consistently dominant. Jacobs forced 12 missed tackles and had three runs of 10 or more yards, and he was a solid pass blocker. Tom didn’t give up more than two runs and was strong in the run game. Wilson forced three missed tackles and managed a 19-yard run.

Top 5 defense

1. LB Quay Walker: 91.4
2. CB Javon Bullard: 84.9
3. CB Keisean Nixon: 83.2
4. DE Lukas Van Ness: 82.9
5. DE Brenton Cox Jr.: 79.9

Walker had four stops, a pass breakup and two hurries, and two other stops were wiped out by penalties. He was also perfect as a tackler. This was one of the best games of his NFL career. Bullard made three stops, had seven tackles without a miss and had solid coverage against the slot, a dangerous position in the 49ers’ offense. Nixon gave up a catch in coverage and had a forced fumble. Van Ness generated two pressures, including a strip sack, in just 10 pass-rushing snaps. Cox Jr. had a tackle against the run and rush.

Below 5 attack

1. RG Sean Rhyan: 33.8
2. WR Christian Watson: 47.1
3. TE Ben Sims: 55.6
4. RB Chris Brooks: 57.7
5. WR Bo Melton: 58.2

Rhyan gave up two pressures, incurred a pre-snap penalty and struggled in the running game. Watson dropped a sure-fire touchdown pass and failed to catch three targets. Sims was not targeted and was only average as a run blocker. Brooks assessed a 15-yard tripping penalty. Melton didn’t have a catch on eight routes run.

Defending the bottom 5

1. CB Carrington Valentine: 29.5
2. CB Eric Stokes: 47.8
3. DL Colby Wooden: 48.5
4. DE Kingsley Enagbare: 54.5
5. DL Devonte Wyatt: 54.9

Valentine allowed three catches for a game-high 68 yards, including a 31-yarder to George Kittle. Stokes didn’t give up a catch, but earned a team-low mark against the run. Wooden struggled against the run and had no pressure across 14 pass-rushing snaps. Enagbare was strong against the run but missed a tackle on a sack. Wyatt had a rush and a quarterback hit, but couldn’t withstand the run.

Special teams

Corey Ballentine, Isaiah McDuffie, Arron Mosby, Carrington Valentine and Eric Wilson all had tackles covering kicks or punts, although Ballentine missed two tackles. Bo Melton also missed tackles. In total, the Packers had six misses on special teams, a season high. Brandon McManus made a 51-yard field goal and all five extra points, while Daniel Whelan had a punt inside the 20-yard line. The 49ers had an explosive kickoff return that was called back for a penalty.

Quarterback game

Jordan Love: 63.5

Love was great from clean pockets, completing 10 of 15 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown when not under pressure. He also threw a touchdown under pressure, but took two sacks and had two turnover-worthy plays. The Packers dropped two of his passes, including a 49-yard touchdown pass. Love was just 1 of 6 on passes over 20 yards, although Watson’s deficit was – once again – large. Both of Love’s touchdown passes came on passes under 10 yards.

Stat knowing

Jacobs gained 83 yards after initial contact and forced a season-high 12 missed tackles (Next Gen Stats counted 15). Emanuel Wilson and Christian Watson (hurdling) also forced missed throws, so the Packers runners finished with 113 rushing yards and 16 forced missed tackles, as well as four runs of more than 10 yards.